Sea wall



June 23, 1931.

E. A. FORBES SEA WALL Filed May 22. 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet l June 23,- 1931. E. A. FORBES 1,811,005

SEA WALL Filed May 22. 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 23, 1931. E. A. F ORBYES 1,811,005

SEA WALL Filed na 22'. 19:50 Sheets-Sheet 3 June 23, 1931.

E. A. FORBES) SEA WALL Filed Ma 22. 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Wen/1 Patented June 23, 1931 UNITED STATES EDWARD ARTHUR FORBES, or wnsr PALM BEACH, stoning 1 sea WALL.

Application filed May 22, 1930. Serial No. 454,737.

The present invention has relation to means for preventing encroachment of the sea and maintaining apredetermined shore line, particularly when the ground adjacent 6 the beach is occupied by buildings."

The invention provides a wall which is stable, lasting, and capable of resisting the scouring action of the waves and currents, and which may be constructed at an outlay I l less thaninvolved in forming the usual step and roll way type of sea wall of concrete.

The invention primarily relates to the foundation for sustaining the superstructure of concrete, and which foundation extends to a depth to prevent undermining or wash out, and which is adapted to localize any possible damage and minimize the cost of repairs.

In accordance with the invention, the foundation includes a bulkhead and buttresses interlocked therewith, ties bracingly connecting the parts, and a filling of earth, sand or other suitable material conveniently at hand. The bulkhead and buttresses comprise sheet metal piling driven to a suitable depth of about fifteen to thirty feet, more or less, according to location and conditions. The concrete superstructure is built upon this foundation and interlocked therewith to form a unit, all as will appear more fully hereinafter.

lVhile the drawings illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that in adapting the means to meet specific needs and requirements, the design may be varied and changes in the minor details of construction may be resorted to with in the scope of the invention as claimed, without departing from the spirit thereof.

For a full understanding of the invention and the merits thereof, reference is to be had to the following description and thedraw ings hereto attached, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective View of a section of sea wall embodying the invention.

Figure 2is an enlarged cross sectional view on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the bulkhead and buttress piling and connecting ties forming the frame work ofthe foundation;

piling.

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view on the liners-4L of Figure 3. a

Figure 5 is a fragmentary perspective View showingthe ties applied to the sheet metal Figure 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of angularly disposed piles and the angle bar forming connecting means therebetween.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and designated in the several views of the drawings by like reference characters.

In accordance with the present invention, the sea wall comprises a concrete superstructure of the step and rollway type and a foundation of sheet metal piling, and a filling,- the piling being driven to a depth to insure stability of structure under all conditions and prevent undermining by the scouring action of waves and currents. The top of the piling is embedded and anchored in the superstructure. The piling paralleling the shore line and beach is designated as the bulkhead piling, whereas that disposed shoreward and at a right angle thereto is designatedas the but- 7 tress piling, and the bulkhead and buttress piling are bounded and-tied by metal rods, the space thus enclosed being filled with sand, earth or other material, thus forming a foundation, which is stable and not liable to be undermined by the action of currents and waves. r V I In accordance with the invention, a line of sheet metal piling-l is driven into the earth along the prescribed line which usually parallels the shore; Other sheetmetal piling 2 is driven into the earth shoreward of the piling 1 and preferably at a right angle thereto. The piling 1 corresponds tothe bulkhead and the piling 2 to the buttresses, the bulkhead piling and the buttress piling being securely joined to prevent possible separation. The piling may be of any construction and the individual elements or members are interlocked to form a continuous structure. buttress piling 2 may be connected to the bulkhead pilingl in. any substantial manner and, :as indicated most clearly in Figure 6 of the drawings, an angle iron 8 is utilized and riveted or. otherwise secured to the ad- The r jacent piles. The piling is driven to a safe depth usually twenty to thirty feet below the median water line, to prevent any possible Wash out. The buttress piling 2 may extend shoreward any determinate distance and may be spaced apart a distance depending upon the resistance to be olfered to the action of waves and currents. After the piling has been driven, longitudinal tie rods 4: are passed through openings formed in the bulkhead piling 1 and other rods 5 are arranged vertically between the piling and the longitudinal rods 4. The openings receiving the iongitudinal rods 4 are formed in the piling after the latter has been driven and an acetylene torch is generally employed for removing the metal to form the openings. The longitudinal rods 4 and the vertical rods 5 are disposed upon the side of the piling facing the sea and provide means for securely anchoring the facing ,6 of the bulkhead. Other rods 7 are passed through openings formed in the buttress piling 2 adjacent the upper ends thereof. Transverse rods 8 are placed upon the longitudinal rods 7 and are connected to the upper ends of the piling 1. The rods 7 and 8 form ties forbracingly cons necting the buttress and bulkhead piling and also reinforce the superstructure and provide a bond between said superstructure and the foundation. After the piling has been driven, the space in the rear of the bulkhead and between the buttress piling is filled in with sand, earth or other material, to approximately the a top of the piling, after which the superstructure is placed in position upon the piling. It is observed that the top portion of the piling and the rods 7 and 8 are exposed to admit of the concrete forming the superstructure obtaining a substantial and firm bond with the piling of the foundation. The rods 7 and 8 becoming embedded in the structure, reinforce and strengthen the same and the concrete, in turn, unites the rods 7 and 8 in a manner to form a unitary structure 7 which is tied, braced and reinforced, with the result that any possible damage is localized and the structure as a whole rendered stable and resistant to the scouring action of waves and currents.

The superstructureis of the step and roll way type of sea wall and comprises steps 9, roll way 10 and reinforcements 11. The superstructureis reinforced and strengthened in the accustomed way by rods embedded therein and is further strengthenedand reinforced by the embedded rods 7 and 8 and the upper ends of the piling 1 and 2.

A sea wall of the step and roll'way type as generally constructed is expensive, because the superstructure and foundation are of onepiece structure consisting of concrete, and to extend the same to a depth to resist the scouring action of waves and currents has not been practicable. In accordance with the present invention, the superstructure alone is of concrete and the foundation of sheet metal piling and filling, and, as a result, the wall may be constructed at a materially less cost and the foundation may penetrate to a depth to pre clude any possible scouring action by waves or currents. Moreover, the wall is rigid and possesses permanent stability and provides a bearing power for localizing any possible damage and admitting of any necessary repairs being cheaply and readily effected. The foundation piling and the concrete superstructure are firmly bonded and the permanency of the superstructure is maintained because of the depth 'of penetration of the piling, the filling ting n the c pa ty ballast.

NVhat is claimed is:

l. Asea wall comprising sheet metal piling interlocked and driven to depth to insure permanency and stability and forming a bulkhead, transverse sheet metal piling permas nently andrigid-ly connected to the bulkhead piling and extending shoreward and driven to a depth to insure a rigidand stable structure, 99

longitudinal and transverse rods engaging the upper portions of the piling, and a concrete superstructure supported upon the piling and reinforced and strengthened by the said 1ongitudinal and transverse rods which are em.- bedded therein and bonded thereby.

2, A sea wall comprising interlocked sheet metal piling forming a bulkhead, interlocked transverse piling forming buttresses and permanently connected to the bulkhead piling, a 19 facing of concrete applied to the bulkhead piling, tie rodsconnecting the upper ends of the bulkhead and buttress piling, ,a nd a superstructure of concrete supported upon the piling and forming abond for the longitudinal and transverse rods which are embedded therein, said superstructure connecting with the said facing. v o

3, A sea wall of the step and roll way type comprising a line of interlocking sheet metal 1 piling forminga bulkhead, lines of interlocking sheet metal piling having a transverse arrang ment d p rmanen ly and rigi ly connected to the bulkhead piling to form buttresses, longitudinal and vertical rods P15 applied to the outer side of the bulkhead piling, longitudinal and transverse rods en gaging the upper ends of the bulkhead and buttress piling, a facing of concrete applied to the bulkhead piling, cupying the space between the bulkhead and buttress piling, and a superstructure of concrete supported upon the piling and filling and having the upper ends of the piling and the longitudinal and transverse rods em- 125 bedd'edtherein and bonded thereby.

4. A seawall of the step {and roll waytype which consists of sheet metal piling driven substantially parallel with the shore line, a sheet metal piling shoreward of the shore line afilling ocpiling driven at substantially a right angle to the shore line piling and rigidly secured thereto, longitudinal rods passed through openings in the shore line piling, vertical rods disposed across the longitudinal rods, longitudinal and transverse rods connected to the upper ends of the piling, ,a filler for the piling, a concrete foundation uniting with the top portion of the piling and forming a bond for the longitudinal and transverse rods, and a facing of concrete applied to the upper portion of the shore line piling.

In testimony whereof I aifix my signature.

EDWARD ARTHUR FORBES; 

